Liverpool's reasons for rejecting Ruben Amorim proven right as Man Utd hit rock bottom

Liverpool's reasons for rejecting Ruben Amorim proven right as Man Utd hit rock bottom

Ruben Amorim's spell at Manchester United is going from bad to worse, but there is a reality where the Portuguese boss could have ended up in charge at Liverpool instead of Arne Slot

Ruben Amorim has endured a disastrous start to the season with Manchester United (Image: Getty Images)

Success in football can often hinge on a sliding doors moment, and it appears Liverpool's decision to appoint Arne Slot instead of Ruben Amorim was as crucial as any in their recent history. The pair's contrasting fortunes ever since coming to the Premier League couldn't be more opposite.

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After the shock announcement that Jurgen Klopp would leave Liverpool in January 2024, all eyes were on his successor. It's no secret that the hierarchy at the Reds were interested in then-Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim to take the reins at Anfield.

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Yet Liverpool opted for Feyenoord boss Slot, while United eventually moved for Amorim in November 2024 after sacking Erik ten Hag. There were several reasons why Liverpool chose the Dutchman over his Portuguese counterpart, with Amorim's rigid playing style said to be a major concern for Anfield officials.

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ESPN claimed that Amorim was snubbed, not only for his tactical inflexibility, but also due to the nearly £10million buy-out clause that Liverpool would have had to agree on in order to bring Amorim to Merseyside.

Tensions over a perceived premature reporting of Liverpool's interest in Amorim also left the Anfield outfit irritated, according to The Athletic.

Yet Liverpool’s hierarchy ultimately decided against Amorim as they felt his favoured 3-4-3 system would not suit the squad that Klopp had left behind, with the German often deploying a flat back four in a 4-3-3.

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Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim have had mixed fortunes since coming to England (Image: DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)

Amorim's system – which can adjust into a 4-2-4 in transitions, a 5-2-3 when defending, and a 3-2-5 when attacking – was, and is, key to the manager’s ideals. However, Liverpool believed they didn't have the personnel to make a back three work, while Slot was already wedded to a back four thanks to his successful 4-2-4 approach in the Eredivisie.

Bringing Amorim on board would have been a costly acquisition for the Reds, with a total overhaul of Liverpool's tried and tested formation required to realise Amorim's ambitions. The Athletic report also added that Liverpool had doubts about whether the 40-year-old's playing style would appeal to the Anfield crowd.

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Slot, meanwhile, has also claimed he was eventually the only one approached with the offer of the Liverpool job. That showed he was ultimately the first choice in the end, despite links to former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso too, who eventually left Bayer Leverkusen for Real Madrid this summer.

United went ahead regardless of Liverpool's concerns and brought Amorim in, despite knowing the coaches' penchant for a back three.

Fast forward to the 2025/2026 season, Slot is fast becoming an Anfield icon and Liverpool are the defending Premier League champions.

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Arne Slot won the Premier League in his first season as Liverpool manager (Image: Getty)

Meanwhile, United are facing yet another crisis after the Red Devils were brutally dumped out of the Carabao Cup in the second round by League Two side Grimsby Town on Wednesday night.

Amorim's once growing stock, built on two Primeira Liga titles with Sporting in 2022 and 2024, appears to be at an all time low after he steered United to 15th in the Premier League last season and saw his side lose the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur in May.

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Having won just 16 games for United out of 45, his win rate lies at a paltry 35.6%. For comparison, his rate at Sporting was 71%, while the man sacked for Amorim – Ten Hag – had a success rate of 56% at United upon his dismissal.

It's not like there hasn't been funds available to Amorim for him to carve United into his own image. Patrick Dorgu joined for £29m in January, while this summer saw Matheus Cunha sign in a £62.5m deal.

Ruben Amorim has brought in his own players such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha (Image: Getty)

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Bryan Mbeumo was recently brought in for £71m. Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko is the latest recruit, costing United £74m, while Diego Leon and Ayden Heaven were signed at the turn of the year for a total of around £5m and it's believed they aren't done yet in this current transfer window.

It's mind boggling to think that Amorim has not even been in charge at Old Trafford for a year. However, a combination of his insistence on playing a back three and goalkeeping issues, with both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, have seen United ship 44 goals during his time in charge.

His fallings out with senior players, such as Marcus Rashford, who has since joined Barcelona on loan, and Alejandro Garnacho have raised eyebrows and seen his position come under scrutiny.

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A discernible lack of improvement on the pitch, with former United stars such a Wayne Rooney questioning Amorim's constant in-game tinkering, has the Portuguese boss staring down the barrel just over nine months into his spell.

Amorim is yet to taste victory this season too, with an opening day 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal coupled with an underwhelming 1-1 draw away to Fulham. Next up for United is a home match against Premier League new-boys Burnley on Saturday ahead of the international break. A short trip to Manchester City awaits after that.

Liverpool, on the other hand, are heading into an early season title clash with Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, with Slot's side having won two from two so far.

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Following their midweek humiliation to Grimsby, United will now be looking at the game against the Clarets as a must-win to keep their season afloat. A sliding doors moment indeed.

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